These maps show that during July the weather pattern over the South Pacific
changed from a HIGH to NE of NZ to a stronger than normal disturbed westerly
flow. And there are a pair of amplified HIGHS either side of North America,
aiding bushfires.
And the Indian Ocean weather patterns are completely different from those in the
South Pacific.

WEATHER ZONES
SPCZ=South Pacific Convergence zone.
SPCZ is weak this week and expected to remain draped over North Coral Sea and
from Tuvalu to Tokelau to Northern Cooks. There is a passing trough tonight over
Fiji (bringing rain, welcomed by some) and this should travel off to the
southeast by mid-week.

STR= Sub-tropical Ridge
Next HIGH is travelling along 50S on Mon/Tuesday towards South island on
Wednesday and then to east northeast of NZ crossing Chatham Islands on Thursday.
Since this week's HIGH is coming from so far south it has brought chilled air to
the South Island - at around the time of the year we get our coldest
temperatures.
The following HIGH next week is expected to take a more regular course along
35S.

Voyage Outlooks:

Tahiti to the west
Maybe some showers around Tahiti on local Sunday/Monday, then looks to be more
settled for the remainder of the week for departure. Wind flow is looking good
for getting west this week, but a passing trough is likely to being variable
winds south of 20S especially after Wednesday.

Between NZ and the tropics
Meteorologists has a phrase to describe this pattern, one that seems to pop up
mid-winter --- "LOW INDEX" the means that the zonal index, as measured by the
baro pressure at Auckland minus that an Invercargill (usually a positive number)
is taking on negative values, with Highs over the South Island and lows over the
North Island.

This changes the strategy for departing from northern NZ. The best looking
opportunity is today or Monday. Monday is a day of light variable winds
in-between the Low that moved off northern NZ last night and another low that is
expected to do so on Tuesday/Wednesday. So a departure on Monday takes a voyage
deliberately across the centre of a low-where the winds are light and variable,
but somewhat unsteady, and where there may be rain clouds and perhaps a squall.

If you wait until Tuesday or later then the outlook is for onshore winds and
swell-not such a good idea for departure.